Metric Conversions Review
Name: ____________________________Section: _______________
Metric Prefixes:
Kilo-
Hecto-
Deka-
1000
100
10
Base Unit
1
Deci-
Centi-
Milli-
0.1
0.01
0.001
(1/10)
(1/100)
(1/1000)
Converting Within the Metric System:
Looking at the prefix chart above, how many times bigger is a kilometer than a meter? To get
the answer simply count how many zeros “kilo” is away from the “standard” meter (in the
center). The answer is three. This means that 1 kilometer is equal to 1000 meters. How did I
do that? I simply added three zeros to the meter value because the kilometer is three factors of
10 larger than a meter.
This works for the smaller units as well. How many centimeters are there in a meter? Using the
prefix chart, the “centi” is two zeros to the right of the standard. That means that the centimeter
is two factors of 10 smaller than the meter. Add two zeros to the value and the number is now
in centimeters.
1m = 100 centimeters
If you want to convert a
larger unit into a smaller
unit you don’t add zeros
according to the prefix
chart, you subtract them
by moving the decimal
point. If you had 150
centimeters and you wanted this in meters simply count how many factors larger a meter is (in
this case two) and then move the decimal point two places to make the number smaller. The
answer is 1.5 meters.
Problems:
1) 3.5 kilometers equals how many meters? ___________________ m
2) 1500 meters converts to how many kilometers? ___________________ km
3) 5000 milliliters is how many liters of liquid? ___________________ L
4) 3793 centimeters equals how many meters? ___________________ m
5) 500 liters converts to how many kiloliters? ___________________ kL
Converting Between Metric and English:
Whether you are from Canada, Great Britain, Italy, or the United States – communication
between different units of measurement is important. The United States is the only country in
the world that still uses the “English” system of measurement rather than the “metric” system.
Going from one system to the other is important in understanding measurement and amounts or
values of materials. For example, how much is 2 liters of soda? Is 5 grams of sodium a lot? Is 1
kilogram of chocolate worth the price? All of these are good questions and conversions hold the
answers.
Use the computers and the conversion site provided to change the following units from
one unit to another.
http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/conversions.html
Length / Height
1) Convert 10 feet to meters: __________________ m
2) Convert 17.5 miles (statute) to kilometers: __________________ km
3) Convert 1 meter to feet: __________________ ft
4) Convert 1 inch to centimeters: __________________ cm
Temperature
5) Convert 0 Celsius to Fahrenheit: __________________ oF
6) Convert 72 Fahrenheit to Celsius: __________________ oC
7) Convert 100 Fahrenheit to Celsius: __________________ oC
8) Convert 0 Kelvin to Celsius: __________________ oC
Volume (cubic/cubed units)
9) Convert 2 Liters to Gallon (US): __________________ Gal
10) Convert 1 Liter to Cups (US, liquid): __________________ Cups
11) Convert 1 Gallon (US) to Milliliters: __________________ ML
12) Convert 1 Tablespoon to Teaspoon: __________________ t
Weight
13) Convert 1 Kilogram to Pounds __________________ Lbs
14) Convert 100 Pounds to Kilograms __________________ Kg
15) Convert 5 Pounds to Kilograms __________________ Kg
16) Convert 1 Ton (metric) to Pounds: __________________ Lbs
How did the computer know what to do? How could it calculate all of these
conversions? The answer is math! The conversion from one unit to another is a simple
math problem. The math problem uses the idea that you can multiply any number by
the number one (1) and it doesn’t change things. For example: 1 X 5 = 5. Also any
number divided by itself equals one: 5 / 5 = 1. The key is picking the right number
“one.”
Example 1: You are in a Swiss candy store. The price of some yummy looking
chocolate is $7.99 American for 2 kilograms. How much are you getting in pounds for
$7.99? (HINT: 1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds)
Known Data
Calculation
$ 7.99 for 2 kg
1 kg = 2.2 lbs
Kilograms cancel and you
are left with pounds.
2 kg
X
2.2 lbs
1 kg
= 4.4 lbs for $7.99
2.2 lbs divided by 1 kg equals one
because they are equal values!
Problems: Now it is your turn to try some calculations on your own. Use a calculator to
figure out these problems. After you have completed them you may use the computer
to check your work! Good luck.
17) After a family vacation in Canada, you're ready to return to the United States. However,
as you approach the border you notice a traffic jam and you're almost out of gas. You only
have enough Canadian money to buy 40 Liters of gas. Will this be enough to fill your 20
Gallon tank? (NOTE: 1 Gallons (US) equals 3.78541 Liters)
40 L
X
1 Gal
3.78541 L
=
__________________ Gal
YES it will fill the tank.
or
NO it will not fill the tank
(circle the correct answer)
18) If you run 1 kilometer, have you run more or less than a mile? One mile = 1.6
kilometers.
1 km X
1 mile
1.6 km
= __________________ miles
YES it is more than a mile.
or
NO it is not more than a mile
(circle the correct answer)
19) You went to the store to buy supplies for a pancake breakfast the local fire company
is sponsoring. When you got to the station you dropped the box with the three 1gallon jugs of milk. All of the jugs are damaged and need to be transferred other
containers. The only thing you have is a clean bunch of 2-Liter bottles left over from
a 4th of July celebration. How many 2-Liter bottles will you need to store all the milk?
(Note: 1 gallon equals 3.78 liters.)
3 Gal X
L =
Gal
A. 3
__________________ L
B. 6
C. 9
D. 12
(circle the correct answer)
20) Take your own weight in pounds and convert it to kilograms. (Note: 1 kilogram equals
2.2 pounds.)
__________________ lbs X
kg
= __________________ kg